According to the majority of Ghanaians polled, physically punishing a wife is never acceptable, according to the most recent Afrobarometer study.
While the majority of people claim that gender-based violence against women and girls is uncommon in their neighborhoods, many also claim that women are likely to face criticism or harassment if they report such violence to the police.
In general, Ghanaians view domestic violence as a criminal matter requiring law enforcement intervention as opposed to a personal issue best handled inside the family. The majority of people think the police will likely treat incidents of GBV seriously.
More than three-fourths (78%) of Ghanaians feel that violence against women is "not very common" or "not at all common" in their community, according to the research.
The majority of Ghanaians (85%) believe that it is never acceptable for a man to physically punish his wife. One in seven people (about 11%) or 3%) believe it is "always" or "sometimes" justified.
"More than four in ten respondents" (24%) or "very likely" (18%) believe that a woman will face criticism or harassment if she informs the authorities about gender-based abuse. The majority (65%) only rate this as "extremely unlikely."
However, over 90% of respondents (86%) think that the police are likely to treat incidents of GBV seriously. Domestic violence should be dealt with as a criminal offense, according to nearly two-thirds (64%) of Ghanaians, not as a personal issue that should be settled inside the family.